Boat loader of the side mounting type

ABSTRACT

The invention is a car top boat carrying and loading device upon which a boat is preferably loaded and carried in an inverted position. It includes frame members mountable on top of a car; rails which are pivotably and removably attached at either side of the frame members to extend downward from the top and to the side of the car; rollers associated with the boat and rollable upon the frame members and rails; foldable supporting legs at the ends of the rails which in their opened position, extend downward preferably vertically from the ends of the rails to the ground; stops at the ends of the rails to prevent the boat from rolling off the ends thereof; and handles attached to the ends of the rails. The foldable legs are pivotally attached to the rails and removable resilient connectors are provided between the legs and rails. After the boat has been rolled off the frame members to the stops, the resilient connectors are stretched and attached between the legs and rails so that if the handles are used to lift the legs clear of the ground, the legs will be pulled up to a folded position. Thus, when the rails are lowered to the ground, the boat will be tipped to a relatively steep angle from which it may be easily uprighted and removed from the rails. In reloading the reverse procedure is used except that the resilient connectors are left unattached and when the handles are lifted, the legs swing to a generally vertical position by their own weight.

United States Patent [1 1 Partyka [451 Feb. 18, 1975 BOAT LOADER OF THESIDE MOUNTING TYPE [76] Inventor: Michael ,1. Partyka, 22 Jeremiah Ave,Trenton, NJ. 08610 Filed: Oct. 25, 1973 Appl. No.: 409,758

[52] U.S. Cl. 214/450, 214/85 [51] lnt.Cl. B60p 3/10 [58] Field ofSearch 214/85, 85.1, 450; 224/421 E, 42.1 F, 42.1 H; 198/87, 113

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,603,529 7/1952 Troth etal....' 214/85 UX 3,186,569 6/1965 Roux 214/450 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 573,055 3/1959 Canada 214/450 Primary Examiner-Robert B.Reeves Assistant Examiner-Joseph J. Rolla Attorney, Agent, or FirmSperryand Zoda [57] ABSTRACT The invention is a car top boat carrying andloading device upon which a boat is preferably loaded and carried in aninverted position. It includes frame members mountable on top of a car;rails which are pivotably and removably attached at either side of theframe members to extend downward from the top and to the side of theear; rollers associated with the boat and rollable upon the framemembers and rails; foldable supporting legs at the ends of the railswhich in their opened position, extend downward preferably verticallyfrom the ends of the rails to the ground; stops at the ends of the railsto prevent the boat from rolling off the ends thereof; and handlesattached to the ends of the rails. The foldable legs are pivotallyattached to the rails and removable resilient connectors are providedbetween the legs and rails. After the boat has been rolled off the framemembers to the stops, the resilient connectors are stretched andattached between the legs and rails so that if the handles are used tolift the legs clear of the ground, the legs will be pulled up to afolded position. Thus, when the rails are lowered to the ground, theboat will be tipped to a relatively steep angle from which it may beeasily up righted and removed from the rails. 1n reloading the reverseprocedure is used except that the resilient connectors are leftunattached and when the handles are lifted, the legs swing to agenerally vertical position by their own weight.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATEHTEU H55] 8 5 SHEET 1 OF 2 BOAT LOADER OFTHE SIDE MOUNTING TYPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to the field of car top boat carryingand loading devices, especially of the side loading type in which theboat is preferably loaded and carried in an inverted position.

2. Description of the Prior Art Numerous patents have been issuedrelating to boat loading and carrying devices for automotive use. In thevarious applications the boat may be carried keel side up or keel sidedown, it may be loaded from the side or from the back of the car,winches may be used, and stationary and movable frame members may becombined in one unit.

Specific prior art references are as follows (all are United StatesPatents):

Embler 2,849,135 Erdody 3,244,300 Heflin 3,45 2,893 Oldham 3,460,693Simms 3,460,694 Wuest 3,615,030 Fulcher 3,679,080

One difficulty with the side loading devices in the prior art has beenthe steepness of the slope of the rails extending from the top of thecar. If the slope is very steep, much of the weight of the boat will bethrown on the boat handler. Legs have often been supplied at the ends ofthe rails to provide a more gentle slope. However, the presence of legshas created an additional problem in that the boat must be lifted theheight of the legs in order for it to be placed in position on the railsor removed therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention represents a substantialimprovement in boat loading and carrying devices of the side mountingtype. The invention includes frame members mountable on top of a car,upon which a boat may be carried, preferably in aninverted position;rails which are pivotally and removably attached at either side of theframe members to extend downward from the top and tothe side of the car;rollers associated with the boat and rollable upon the frame members andrails; foldable supporting legs at the ends of the rails which, in theiropened position, extend downward preferably vertically from the ends ofthe rails to the ground, and which are of sufficient length so therailsare not disposed at so steep an angle to make it difficult to rollthe boat upon them; stops at the ends of the rails to prevent the boatfrom rolling off the ends thereof; and handles attached to the rails.The foldable legs are pivotally attached to the ends of the rails andremovable resilient connectors are provided between the legs and rails.

When a boat is to be unloaded from the top of the car the rails are putin place on either side of the car and the legs are unfolded without theresilient connectors attached. In this position the rails will besupported by the legs so that a gentle slope is presented down which theboat is rolled until it hits the stops. The resilient connectors are nowattached but the legs are prevented from folding by the weight of theboat and interference of the legs with the ground until the boathandler, using the handles, lifts the legs clear of the ground. Theresilient connectors then act to retract the legs and the boat handlermay lower the ends of the rails down to the ground, thus greatlyincreasing the slope of the rails and allowing the boat to be easilyrolled over to an upright position in or out of the water.

To reload the boat upon the car, the reverse of the above procedure isused except that the resilient connectors are not attached at anytime.Instead, after the boat has been rolled over onto the rails, the railsare lifted using the handles, and the legs swing down to their unfoldedposition by gravity. Otherwise the reverse of the above describedprocedure is preferably followed exactly.

The invention is very useful in allowing one man loading and unloadingof even heavy boats. Further, it is quite simple in construction andoperation and does not require the use of heavy and expensive winches orother hardware.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the present inventionparticularly showing the relation of DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERREDEMBODIMENT The present invention represents a structurally simple butsubstantial improvement in automotive boat loading and carrying devices,in which a boat is preferably loaded from the side of acar and carriedin an inverted position. In general terms the invention includes a cartop rack or frame upon which a boat may be carried, rails pivotallyconnected to, and extending outward and downward from said frame to theside of the car, upon which rails a boat may be rolled; and foldablesupporting legs which may be folded to allow the ends of the rails torest on the ground, or unfolded to support the ends of the rails at aheight off the ground. Such legs further include an automaticfoldability feature such that they may be automatically retracted to afolded position when they are lifted clear of interference with theground.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows all of the principal features of theinvention. Frame members generally designated 10 are mountable upon theroof of a motor vehcle. Frame members 10 may be conventional roof racksadapted for use with the present invention or may be speciallyconstructed. Frame members 10 consist essentially of support brackets 12and cross members 14. Support brackets 12 are adapted to clamp onto therain gutters of an automobile in a conventional manner and cross members14 are attached to said brackets 12.

Rails generally designated 16 are provided, which may be removably andpivotally connected to either of the ends of cross members 14. As shownin the drawings, cross members 14 and rails 16 are preferably of tubularcross section and connected by hinged connector 18 which fits snugly butremovably inside the ends of cross members 14 and rails 16. Thisconstruction is considered to provide for simple assembly of theinvention, however, the specific cross section of the cross members 14,rails 16 and connectors 18 should not be construed as limiting the scopeof the invention. In order to allow the invention to be disassembledinto relatively small components, rails 16 are most convenientlyconstructed in two parts, labelled as 16a and 16b. These parts areremovably joined at 20, as by a plug which is preferably welded to onepart of rail 16 and slidingly fitted into the other part.

A boat 22 is provided with rollers 24, as shown in detail in FIG. 4,which rollers 24 are adapted to roll upon cross members 14 and rails 16.In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, rollers 24 are attached to boat22 in a manner similar to oarlocks, however any convenient method ofattachment may be used. Further, rollers 24 need not be attacheddirectly to boat 22, but they may be a part of a small dolly upon whichboat 22 is tied down.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-5 the rolling face of rolers 24 isconcave and rails 16 are circular in cross section. These surfacescomplement each other in allowing rollers 24 to roll along rails 16 orcross members l4, and in preventing rollers 24 from sliding transverselyoff of rails 16 or cross members 14. Thus when boat 22 is in place ontop of frame members it may be tied firmly in place. This particularconstruction should not be construed as limiting the scope of theinvention, however.

Support members or legs 26 are pivotally attached to rails 16 near thefree ends thereof such that they will freely swing downward under theirown weight if they are not otherwise restrained. Preferably, theattachment of legs 26 to rails 16 is also removable, as by a wing nutand bolt, thus enabling disassembly of the invention for storage.Although the pivotal connection between legs26 and rails 16 is such thatlegs could be rotated completely around through a full circle, it willbe apparent to one skilled in the art that when the free ends of legs 26are placed upon the ground, the entire structure of the invention willbecome stable since legs 26 will be prevented from moving by theircontact with the ground.

Rails 16 are also provided with stops 28 which project upward therefromfor the purpose of preventing the boat 22 from rolling off the end ofthe rails 16.

These stops 28 are preferably threaded pegs which are screwed intothreaded holes in rails 16. However, any appropriate means for limitingthe travel of the boat 22 on the rails 16 may be used. Handles 30 arealso provided preferably to fit into the ends of rails 16. These too maybe held in place by convenient means, as by a nut and bolt.

Legs 26 and rails 16 are also provided with cross braces numbered 32 and34 respectively, which provide stability to the assembled structure.Preferably these should allow for adjustability of the width between thelegs 26 and rails 16, and they should be removably attached, as by wingnuts and bolts. Adjustability in the'width of legs 26 may be provided bya multiple of holes in either or both of legs 26, through which crossbrace 31 may be attached. Adjustability in the width between rails 16may be provided by a two part cross brace in which the parts overlap andcontain a multiple of complementary holes through which the parts may besecured by wing nuts and bolts. Thus the width between the rails 16 andlegs 26 may be adjusted as may be necessary to adapt the presentinvention to different automobiles. Accordingly, the rollers 24 shouldbe placed on the boat, and frame members 10 should be placed on the car,in a manner to complement the particular width adjustment selected forthe rails.

At the heart of the present invention is the automatic retractability ofthe legs 26, which is embodied in the resilient connectors 36 which maybe springs, rubberlike straps, or the like. These are removablyconnected, as by hooks, between rails 16 and legs 26, and are of alength such that they will be under tension when the present inventionis assembled on the car and legs 26 are unfolded, to extend generallyvertically from the rails 16 to the ground. The resiliency of resilientconnectors 36 should be such that they will pull legs 26 up into afolded position when legs 26 are lifted clear of the ground. Thereforelegs 26 and cross braces 32 and 34 are preferably constructed from lightweight material, such as aluminum.

When the resilient connectors 36 are attached between the rails 16 andlegs 26, if the legs 26 are resting on the ground, the legs 26 will beprevented from folding up. However, if the handles 30 are used tolift'the legs 26 clear of the ground, the legs 26 will be automaticallyretracted by the resilient connectors 36, so that the ends of the rails16 may be lowered to rest on the ground.

The ingenuity of the present invention may best be seen by a completedescription of the preferred procedure to be used in loading andunloading a boat. When preparing to load a boat, the frame members 10are attached to the roof of a car and the rails 16 and other parts ofthe invention assembled thereon, at either side of the car, as may beconvenient. Resilient connectors 36 are left unattached, legs 26 areplaced in a folded position and the ends of rails 16 are allowed to reston the ground, as shown in FIG. 3. A boat 22 with rollers,

24 is then placed in an initial upright position on the ground near theends of rails 16. Boat 22 may then be easily rolled over until rollers24 engage rails 16. It should be noted that because of the steepness ofthe slope of rails 16, it is not necessary to lift boat 22 off theground or to roll it completely over. However, stops 28 will prevent theboat 22 from rolling off rails 16. Handles 30 are now used to lift theboat 22, the ends of rails 16 and legs 26 clear of the ground. As thisis done, legs 26 will swing down by their own weight to a generallyvertical position at which time handles 30 should be lowered andreleased so that legs 26 will support the full weight at the ends ofrails 16. This relative position of the invention is illustrated in FIG.2. It should be noted that in this position the slope of rails 16 ismuch less than before and that the boat22 may now be quite easily rolledinto place on top of the car. Finally, the boat 22 should be tied firmlyin place and the rails 16, legs 26 and other parts of the inventiondisassembled for transportation or storage.

When it is desired to unload the boat 22 from the top of the car asimilar procedure is used in reverse. First the various elements of theinvention are assembled and put in place. Legs 26 are placed in anunfolded vertical position so that rails 16 are supported in a gentleslope. Boat 22 is untied and rolled down rails 16 until it rests againststops 28. Now resilient connectors 36 are stretched and attached betweenlegs 26 and rails 16. The weight bearing down on legs 26 and theinterference of legs 26 with the ground will prevent resilientconnectors 36 from pulling the legs 26 up to their folded position.However, when handles 30 are used to lift the legs 26 clear of theground, the legs 26 will be quickly retracted allowing the ends of therails 16 to be lowered all the way to rest on the ground. It will now bea simple matter to roll boat 22 over to an upright position. Further,the entire procedure may be performed so that the boat 22 is finallypositioned either in or out of the water.

In practical application the invention is quite simple and convenient touse. After one or two trial runs, the user of this invention willquickly develop his own personal methods for taking the best advantageof its salient features.

I claim:

1. A boat carrier mountable upon a motor vehicle and comprising:

l. a pair of parallel, generally horizontal cross members mountable on avehicle roof and disposed to extend transversely of said roof, at leastone end of the cross members terminating adjacent one side of thevehicle;

2. means detachably connecting the respective cross members to thevehicle;

3. a pair of elongated, parallel rails pivotally joined at one end tosaid ends of the respective cross members and extending laterallydownwardly from said side of the vehicle as continuations of therespective cross members;

4. a series of rollers disposable in supporting relation to the boat tobe carried, and positioned to rollably support said boat upon the railsand cross members;

5. a pair of legs pivotally attached to the respective rails at theother ends thereof for swinging movement between a collapsed position inwhich said legs underlie and extend alongside the respective rails to anextent sufficient for disposition of said other ends of the rails atground level, and a railsupporting position in which the legs extendvertically downwardly from the rails, the legs in the collapsed positionthereof supporting the rails in a position of greater inclination fromthe horizontal than is assumed by the rails when the legs are in theirrail-supportingpositions; and

6. resiliently contractile means detachably connectable between saidrails and the respective legs and tensioned to bias the legs from theirrail-supporting to their collapsed positions whenever the legs areshifted vertically upwardly out of contact with the ground surface whilein the rail-supporting positions thereof, said rails being pivotableupwardly from said positions of lesser inclination thereof to free thelegs from contact with the ground surface,-

said legs being free to gravitate to their railsupporting positions whenthe resiliently contractile means is disconnected and the rails arepivotally moved upwardly from said positions of lesser inclinationthereof.

1. A boat carrier mountable upon a motor vehicle and comprising:
 1. apair of parallel, generally horizontal cross members mountable on avehicle roof and disposed to extend transversely of said roof, at leastone end of the cross members terminating adjacent one side of thevehicle;
 2. means detachably connecting the respective cross members tothe vehicle;
 3. a pair of elongated, parallel rails pivotally joined atone end to said ends of the respective cross members and extendinglaterally downwardly from said side of the vehicle as continuations ofthe respective cross members;
 4. a series of rollers disposable insupporting relation to the boat to be carried, and positioned torollably support said boat upon the rails and cross members;
 5. a pairof legs pivotally attached to the respective rails at the other endsthereof for swinging movement between a collapsed position in which saidlegs underlie and extend alongside the respective rails to an extentsufficient for disposition of said other ends of the rails at groundlevel, and a rail-supporting position in which the legs extendvertically downwardly from the rails, the legs in the collapsed positionthereof supporting the rails in a position of greater inclination fromthe horizontal than is assumed by the rails when the legs are in theirrail-supporting positions; and
 6. resiliently contractile meansdetachably connectable between said rails and the respective legs andtensioned to bias the legs from their rail-supporting to their collapsedpositions whenever the legs are shifted vertically upwardly out ofcontact with the ground surface while in the rail-supporting positionsthereof, said rails being pivotable upwardly from said positions oflesser inclination thereof to free the legs from contact with the groundsurface, said legs being free to gravitate to their rail-supportingpositions when the resiliently contractile means is disconnected and therails are pivotally moved upwardly from said positions of lesserinclination thereof.
 2. means detachably connecting the respective crossmembers to the vehicle;
 3. a pair of elongated, parallel rails pivotallyjoined at one end to said ends of the respective cross members andextending laterally downwardly from said side of the vehicle ascontinuations of the respective cross members;
 4. a series of rollersdisposable in supporting relation to the boat to be carried, andpositioned to rollably support said boat upon the rails and crossmembers;
 5. a pair of legs pivotally attached to the respective rails atthe other ends thereof for swinging movement between a collapsedposition in which said legs underlie and extend alongside the respectiverails to an extent sufficient for disposition of said other ends of therails at ground level, and a rail-supporting position in which the legsextend vertically downwardly from the rails, the legs in the collapsedposition thereof supporting the rails in a position of greaterinclination from the horizontal than is assumed by the rails when thelegs are in their rail-supporting positions; and
 6. resilientlycontractile means detachably connectable between said rails and therespective legs and tensioned to bias the legs from theirrail-supporting to their collapsed positions whenever the legs areshifted vertically upwardly out of contact with the ground surface whilein the rail-supporting positions thereof, said rails being pivotableupwardly from said positions of lesser inclination thereof to free thelegs from contact with the ground surface, said legs being free togravitate to their rail-supporting positions when the resilientlycontractile means is disconnected and the rails are pivotally movedupwardly from said positions of lesser inclination thereof.